24 unnumbered pages, 119 leaves, 24 unnumbered pages ; 29 cm

Holograph

Cover title

At head of title: Medical Faculty, McGill College

Contains primarily records of McGill University Faculty of Medicine dissected cadavers in the Department of Anatomy from April 13th, 1883 to March 26, 1891. Each entry includes details as to the name, sex, religion, cause of death, date and institution received from, as well as date and location of burial. Entries often lack full details. Unnumbered pages (24 pages) at the front are blank except for pages 5-7, which include a listing in alphabetical order of student family names enrolled in the Practical Anatomy class for 1887-1888. As well, page 24 includes a statement for the intent of this work, which is signed by Dr. MacDonnell. Unnumbered pages (24 pages) at end are chiefly blank except for pages 3-9, which include annual receipts and expenditures for the years 1884/1885-1889/1890

Dissection of corpses was used for anatomical instruction at the Medical School of McGill University in the 19th century. Due to lack of cadavers, these were often obtained illegally by students, who snatched the cadavers from "dead houses" in the winter time or from new graves at the local cemeteries. The Anatomy Act passed in 1843 by the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada and later further amended in April 1883, necessitated institutions to supply unclaimed bodies to Montreal's medical schools for the purpose of teaching and learning. Dr. Richard Lea MacDonnell, Demonstrator of Anatomy, and who later became Senior Demonstrator in charge, began keeping a record of the Department of Practical Anatomy legally acquired cadavers upon his appointment in April 1883 and continued to do so until his untimely death in 1891. The practice of recording legally obtained cadavers continued till at least January 31, 1908

Information filled in neat hand with black felt pen. However, additional information is also recorded, sometimes in pencil, in margins and on versos of pages 9, 103, 118. In addition, verso of pages 43, 60, and 68 include additional lists of cadaver names. Author has signed his name at end of list, which appears on verso of page 68

Volume consists of 119 leaves, with 3 printed forms on each leaf for recording cadaver information. These are preceded and followed respectively by 24 unnumbered and unformatted pages

Part of the Richard L. MacDonnell Collection Fonds, P133

Volume entitled, Dissecting Room record (for the years 1896-1908), catalogued separately

Tipped in on verso of pages 55 and 56, a leaf of paper with a list of cadavers buried on March 26th and July 22th 1887 respectively

Laid in: 1) fragments of leaf of paper containing receipts or expenditures; 2) four leaves of sheets of various sizes containing cadaver names and related information; 3) a list of cadaver names on stationary with letter head Faculty of Medicine, Library, containing McGill University Logo, and includes a departmental envelope, addressed to Dr. Sutherland

Laid in: 1) letter dated 24 Oct. 1889 to Dr. Wm. Sutherland, Esq. from the Inspector of Anatomy, C.G. de Laminaude[?]; 2) printed card, filled and signed in manuscript by Inspector of Anatomy, C.G. de Laminaude[?]

Laid in, a printed formatted card with heading, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, for student use during dissection, which contains some annotations in manuscript

Half bound, brown cloth boards; stamped in gilt lettering on front cover; comb-marbled textblock edges; manufacturer's ticket on front pastedown; Medical Library Archives label on bottom left corner of front pastedown; Medical Library Archives rubber stamped on recto of back endpaper; underwent conservation treatment in 2017; in cream colour archival storage box

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